Ethiopia conflict risks wider regional war
“Fighting in northern Ethiopia intensified on Friday as government forces and allied militias advanced towards Tigray's capital Mekelle, while diplomatic ties with Eritrea collapsed and explosions in A…”
The pro-government Tigray Peace Forces militia said it had captured Milazat, about 20 kilometres southeast of Mekelle, as federal troops and allied fighters continued making advances in Tigray since fighting erupted last week. Banks and shops were closed in Mekelle in anticipation of possible fighting,.
A diplo-matic source said senior Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) leaders had already left the city and the con-flict could continue even if federal forces captured it. The latest fighting marks the biggest escalation since Ethiopia's devastating 2020-22 civil war, when hundreds of thousands were killed.
The TPLF has formed an alliance with six other armed groups seeking to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. Ethiopia on Thursday ordered the closure of its embassy in Eritrea and expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats, accus-ing Asmara of direct and indirect hostility.
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Eritrea responded by severing all diplomatic ties, further raising concerns that the conflict could spread beyond Ethiopia's borders. The two countries fought a border war from 1998 to 2000 and restored diplomatic relations in 2018.
Their rela-tionship has since deteriorated, including over Ethiopia's demand for access to the Red Sea, with Eritrea say-ing it fears Ethiopia could attempt to seize its Assab port. Tensions also widened with Egypt after Ethiopia expelled an Egyptian diplomat.
Cairo responded by declaring an Ethiopian embassy counsellor persona non grata and ordering him to leave within 48 hours, describing Ethi-opia's move as unfortunate and unjustified. The dispute comes as Ethiopia accuses Eritrea, Egypt and Sudan of supporting the opposition alliance led by the TPLF.
All three countries have denied the accusations, while the African Union Commission urged Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to exercise maximum restraint. Meanwhile, explosions were heard in Addis Ababa late ON Wednesday, with diplomatic sources telling AFP that small drones were the most likely cause.
An opposition-linked source claimed drone strikes had targeted military headquarters and other sites in the capital.
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